NORTHWEST AIRLINES AND KLM FLY HUMANITARIAN MISSION FROM MICHIGAN TO AFRICA

More Than 6,500 Hundred Pounds of Supplies Heading To Nigeria


Northwest Airlines and its global partner KLM will fly more than 6,500 pounds of medical supplies donated from Saginaw, Michigan so that a medical clinic can be opened in Mbaukwu, Nigeria, which is located near Saginaw’s Sister City, Awka. Northwest and KLM will fly the medical supplies for free to make this humanitarian mission possible.

Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw donated the medical supplies earlier this year. Northwest will transport the supplies via truck from the City of Saginaw’s Public Works Building to its hub at Detroit Metro Airport on Wednesday, November 22nd. From Detroit, Northwest will fly the goods to its European hub in Amsterdam, where it will be transferred to KLM, which will fly the supplies to Lagos, Nigeria.

“I want to offer my highest congratulations and gratitude to Northwest Airlines and KLM for shipping these much-needed medical supplies to a new clinic that will help thousands of families,” said Saginaw Mayor Gary L. Loster, president of the World Conference of Mayors.

“When Mayor Loster asked us to help the City help the people of Nigeria, we began the process of securing space to transport these tons of supplies from Saginaw to Nigeria,” said Bruce Koski, Northwest’s customer service manager at MBS International Airport. “Representing our 11,000 Northwest Airlines employees in Michigan, I am pleased to say that we are able to transport this cargo and make a positive difference in the lives of people in need.” Koski will be accompanying the cargo all the way to Nigeria.

Both Northwest Airlines and KLM run similar charity programs to raise funds on board their aircraft for four charitable causes each year, called “AirCares”. Northwest Airlines and KLM passengers are asked to donate money or frequent flyer points to these charities.

Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline and with its partners offers more than 2,600 daily departures with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam. Also with its travel partners, Northwest serves more than 750 cities in 120 countries on 6 continents.